taos new mexicohttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/taxonomy/term/3218/%252Ffeed
enSticking it to the Ban: "Snowboarding" at Mad River Glenhttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2008/09/sticking-it-to-the-ban-snowboarding-at-mad-river-glen?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<p><center></center></p>
<object width="400" height="225"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=772164&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=772164&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/772164?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">The Hawk</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user394388?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">Dave Raizman</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /></p>
<p>When Burton Snowboards announced a counterculture-video contest in the fall of 2007, American snowboarders began scheming. The competition offered $20,000, to be split four ways, for the best videos of snowboarders poaching the four North American resorts that forbid sideways sliding: Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, Vermont’s Mad River Glen, and Taos, New Mexico (Taos rescinded its snowboarding ban last March).<br /><br /></p>
<p>Among those scheming were David Raizman and Brian Burns. Burns, who’d recently become obsessed with snurfing the hills around his Calais, Vermont, home, and Raizman, a filmmaker, dreamed up a dramatic mockumentary and took to the slopes of Mad River. Burton awarded the resulting five-minute video, christened “The Hawk,” a $5,000 prize.<br /><br /></p>
<p>There’s only one problem: They don’t ride. Raizman is a telemark skier and Mad River loyalist. Burns had never snowboarded either, according to Raizman, who lives in Montpelier, 40 miles down the road from Burton’s Burlington headquarters. “And on top of that, we’re kind of old. Burton was really cool about it, but I don’t think the young snowboarders in the contest were very pleased.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>Raizman, 46, and Burns, 32, weren’t the only non-snowboarders to benefit from the contest: Mad River Glen appreciated the free publicity. “I can’t buy PR like that at any price,” says marketing director Eric Friedman. Friedman went so far as to hire a photographer to accompany the kick-off poach, which consisted of nearly 40 snowboarders who arrived on a motor coach hired by Burton, a luxury Friedman found amusing. “This is a multi-million-dollar company that owns over 50 percent of the market, and they’re talking about ‘sticking it to the man.’”<br /><br /></p>
<p>As for Burns and Raizman, they’re just thankful for the cash. “I had no work in January and February,” says Burns, who makes custom furniture. “I had to win this just to pay the bills.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>View “The Hawk” above. <br /><br /></p>
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2008/09/sticking-it-to-the-ban-snowboarding-at-mad-river-glen#commentsamerican resortsDeer Valleyfilmmakermad river glenskiersnowboardingtaos new mexicoNew MexicoVermontskiing57962http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/_pages_thumbs/2008-09/skg1008east_b_0.jpg68840http://www.skinet.com/skiing/The video-contest winners Burton wasn't expecting.<p><center></center></p>
<object width="400" height="225"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=772164&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=772164&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/772164?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">The Hawk</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user394388?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">Dave Raizman</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&amp;sec=772164">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /></p>
<p>When Burton Snowboards announced a counterculture-video contest in the fall of 2007, American snowboarders began scheming. The competition offered $20,000, to be split four ways, for the best videos of snowboarders poaching the four North American resorts that forbid sideways sliding: Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, Vermont’s Mad River Glen, and Taos, New Mexico (Taos rescinded its snowboarding ban last March).<br /><br /></p>
<p>Among those scheming were David Raizman and Brian Burns. Burns, who’d recently become obsessed with snurfing the hills around his Calais, Vermont, home, and Raizman, a filmmaker, dreamed up a dramatic mockumentary and took to the slopes of Mad River. Burton awarded the resulting five-minute video, christened “The Hawk,” a $5,000 prize.<br /><br /></p>
<p>There’s only one problem: They don’t ride. Raizman is a telemark skier and Mad River loyalist. Burns had never snowboarded either, according to Raizman, who lives in Montpelier, 40 miles down the road from Burton’s Burlington headquarters. “And on top of that, we’re kind of old. Burton was really cool about it, but I don’t think the young snowboarders in the contest were very pleased.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>Raizman, 46, and Burns, 32, weren’t the only non-snowboarders to benefit from the contest: Mad River Glen appreciated the free publicity. “I can’t buy PR like that at any price,” says marketing director Eric Friedman. Friedman went so far as to hire a photographer to accompany the kick-off poach, which consisted of nearly 40 snowboarders who arrived on a motor coach hired by Burton, a luxury Friedman found amusing. “This is a multi-million-dollar company that owns over 50 percent of the market, and they’re talking about ‘sticking it to the man.’”<br /><br /></p>
<p>As for Burns and Raizman, they’re just thankful for the cash. “I had no work in January and February,” says Burns, who makes custom furniture. “I had to win this just to pay the bills.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>View “The Hawk” above. <br /><br /></p>
articleMon, 15 Sep 2008 16:57:01 +0000SkiNet Editor57962 at http://www.skinet.com/skiingTop 10: Backcountry Adventureshttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2003/08/top-10-backcountry-adventures?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<p>Your first foray into the backcountry doesn't have to be pretty. Mine wasn't. One long weekend, I drove from San Francisco to Yosemite to put my new free-heeling skills to the test. The trip was tiring, haphazard -- and glorious. I hoofed it up to the Ostrander Hut and was rewarded with a happy crowd, a soft bed, and a national park right off the front porch. I was hooked. Whether you're a hardened woodsperson craving another epic or a Nordic neophyte looking for a new getaway, a wide, white world awaits.</p><P><b>SORCERER LAKE LODGE, Golden, British Columbia</b><br />If you're looking for a classy home base from which to day-trip, hop on Sorcerer Lake's heli for a week of ski mountaineering in the Selkirks. After breakfasting on pancakes and fresh fruit, you'll pack a lunch, shovel, and beacon and head out with a guide for the day. Skin up from the chalet at 6,700 feet to peaks as high as 11,000 feet or just drop off the front porch into the trees. The staff will fire up the sauna while you're gone.<br /><b>Info: </b>$1,350 per week, includes meals, heli transport, and guiding; 250-344-2804, www.sorcererlodge.com</p><P><b>BULL OF THE WOODS YURT, Taos, New Mexico</b><br />Just (a very steep) two miles from the ski area, the Bull sits on the edge of a clearing, far enough away to feel like an escape, but not too difficult a trek for inexperienced skinners. The yurt sleeps groups of 10 or less -- on futons and the floor -- so reserve early, especially on full moons. Climb north to Gold Hill or, for a really long day, head south to Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point.<br /><b>Info: </b>$85-$125 per night; 505-758-4761</p><P><b>CHIC CHOC MOUNTAINS, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec</b><br />Vermont-based On The Loose Expeditions provides a balanced backcountry trip. Part one: Spend a few days at the comfy Gite de Mont Albert chalet, practicing avalanche skills and finding your ski legs (either telemark or Alpine-touring gear is suitable). Part two: Ski 11 miles to a lakeside hut deep in the high country while a snowmobile portages your gear and food. You'll spend the rest of the week in the celebrated Chic Chocs, enjoying long, rolling tours or descending steep, Alpine-style terrain.<br /><b>Info: </b>$695, April 6-13, 2002; 800-688-1481, www.otloose.com</p><P><b>OSTRANDER HUT, Yosemite, California</b><br />Get in touch with your inner Ansel Adams. A steady, 10-mile climb goes from Badger Pass to a glacial cirque aside Ostrander Lake, where up to 24 skiers -- many repeat visitors -- bunk in a 60-year-old stone cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A full-time hutkeeper keeps the stove stoked. Climb up to Horse Ridge to catch some turns (and a view of Half Dome) or just tool around in the woods. The self-catered feasts are festive, so stuff a bottle of wine next to your Nalgene. <br /><b>Info: </b>$25 nightly per person; 209-372-0740, www.ostranderhut.com</p><P><b>TORNGAT MOUNTAINS, Quebec</b><br />Maybe an off-piste trove of fresh powder isn't good enough for you -- you don't just want untracked, you want never been tracked. You want the Arctic. And who better to show the way than celeb skiers John and Dan Egan? Build Inuit igloos, skin over to the Labrador Coast, and tackle stand-alone peaks. It's your chance for the glory of a first descent, if you can beat the Egans to the punch.<br /><b>Info: </b>$4,500, includes airfare from Montreal, lodging, all meals, transportation, guides, and a customized video of the trip; April 18-29, 2002; 800-983-2670, www.skiclinics.com</p><P><b>SILVERTON MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, Silverton, Colorado</b><br />Before you buy a ticket for Silverton's new -- and only -- lift, you have to take a written backcountry test. Pass, and you and your avalanche gear can have your way with the area's all-black-diamond steeps. The Outdoor Learning and Recreation Center offers courses on avalanche safety, mountain rescue, and mountaineering skills. Girls, don't miss Sisters of the Steeps, a weekend workshop for resort skiers looking to safely venture farrther afield.<br /><b>Info: </b>$25 daily; 970-387-5706, www.silvertonmountain.com</p><P><b>GARIBALDI-NÉVÉE TRAVERSE, Whistler, British Columbia</b><br />Névée is French for "big, huge snowfield," according to Spearhead Mountain Guides. You'll get your névée here, but only after circumnavigating Opal Cone, skirting Garibaldi Peak, and passing blocky seracs -- a classic, leg-burning, high-Alpine route. It takes three days to make the climb from Squamish to Black Tusk, an old volcanic peak, but take an extra day to summit Garibaldi before descending into the Garibaldi Lake basin. Spend your first night at the Elfin Lakes Shelter; bring a tent for the rest.<br /><b>Info: </b>$100 daily for guiding (4 or more), $291 (private), 604-892-3896; Elfin Lakes hut, 604-898-3678, www.bivouac.com</p><P><b>IRWIN LODGE, Crested Butte, Colorado</b><br />When the heave-ho of skiing uphill and lugging your lunch no longer appeals, hitch a ride with Irwin's chauffeured snowcats. They'll take you and 32 others into the heart of 2,200 powdery acres, where you can enjoy some serious backcountry booty without breaking a sweat. And the snowcat-accessed lodge is no yurt: A colossal common room, gourmet meals, fully stocked bar, and big-screen TV make it pretty swanky.<br /><b>Info: </b>$285-$480 nightly per person, includes meals and guiding; 888-GO-IRWIN, www.goirwin.com</p><P><b>TUSHAR MOUNTAIN TOURS, Elk Meadows, Utah</b><br />In 1997, Alec Hornstein procured a yurt from a defunct hut system in southern Utah and started a low-key touring operation near the Elk Meadows Ski Area. A three-and-a-half-mile ski from the Elk Meadows parking lot takes you into the Tushars, a craggy expanse of 12,000-foot peaks, long chutes, and wide-open bowls between the Rockies and the Sierra. If you need a guide, Hornstein will lead you; if you need a chef, he will feed you.<br /><b>Info: </b>$100-$150, including guiding and meals; 435-438-6191, twomilehigh_99@yahoo.com</p><P><b>RENDEZVOUS SKI TOURS, Alta, Wyoming </b><br />Rendezvous operates three yurts on the western side of Teton Pass: Plummer Canyon and Commissary Ridge for the blue-square gang; the higher and more remote Baldy Knoll for the more adventurous. The skiable terrain consists of broad, powder-blanketed ridges leading up to jagged Alpine peaks and spectacular views. The yurts are cozy but basic, with wood stoves and kerosene lanterns. You can go with a guide, or, if you're backcountry savvy, on your own.<br /><b>Info: </b>$165 nightly for up to 8 (unguided); $140-$160 nightly per person (guided); 877-754-4887, <a href="http://www.skithetetons.com" title="www.skithetetons.com">www.skithetetons.com</a></p>
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<a href="/skiing/2001/11/25-great-packages">25 Great Packages</a> </div>
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<a href="/skiing/2001/11/heli-skiing-guide-get-your-rotor-running">Heli-Skiing Guide: Get Your Rotor Running</a> </div>
<div class="field-item odd">
<a href="/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2002/01/looking-for-adventure">Looking for Adventure</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2003/08/top-10-backcountry-adventures#commentsbackcountry tripgold hillselkirksski areataos new mexicoyurtNew Mexicoskiing11267http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/thumb/01/12/skg1101AGuT.jpg51120adventure guide-backcountry
Whistler/Blackcomb is big, but the surrounding backcountry is bigger.
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/Adventure<p>Your first foray into the backcountry doesn't have to be pretty. Mine wasn't. One long weekend, I drove from San Francisco to Yosemite to put my new free-heeling skills to the test. The trip was tiring, haphazard -- and glorious. I hoofed it up to the Ostrander Hut and was rewarded with a happy crowd, a soft bed, and a national park right off the front porch. I was hooked. Whether you're a hardened woodsperson craving another epic or a Nordic neophyte looking for a new getaway, a wide, white world awaits.</p><P><b>SORCERER LAKE LODGE, Golden, British Columbia</b><br />If you're looking for a classy home base from which to day-trip, hop on Sorcerer Lake's heli for a week of ski mountaineering in the Selkirks. After breakfasting on pancakes and fresh fruit, you'll pack a lunch, shovel, and beacon and head out with a guide for the day. Skin up from the chalet at 6,700 feet to peaks as high as 11,000 feet or just drop off the front porch into the trees. The staff will fire up the sauna while you're gone.<br /><b>Info: </b>$1,350 per week, includes meals, heli transport, and guiding; 250-344-2804, www.sorcererlodge.com</p><P><b>BULL OF THE WOODS YURT, Taos, New Mexico</b><br />Just (a very steep) two miles from the ski area, the Bull sits on the edge of a clearing, far enough away to feel like an escape, but not too difficult a trek for inexperienced skinners. The yurt sleeps groups of 10 or less -- on futons and the floor -- so reserve early, especially on full moons. Climb north to Gold Hill or, for a really long day, head south to Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point.<br /><b>Info: </b>$85-$125 per night; 505-758-4761</p><P><b>CHIC CHOC MOUNTAINS, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec</b><br />Vermont-based On The Loose Expeditions provides a balanced backcountry trip. Part one: Spend a few days at the comfy Gite de Mont Albert chalet, practicing avalanche skills and finding your ski legs (either telemark or Alpine-touring gear is suitable). Part two: Ski 11 miles to a lakeside hut deep in the high country while a snowmobile portages your gear and food. You'll spend the rest of the week in the celebrated Chic Chocs, enjoying long, rolling tours or descending steep, Alpine-style terrain.<br /><b>Info: </b>$695, April 6-13, 2002; 800-688-1481, www.otloose.com</p><P><b>OSTRANDER HUT, Yosemite, California</b><br />Get in touch with your inner Ansel Adams. A steady, 10-mile climb goes from Badger Pass to a glacial cirque aside Ostrander Lake, where up to 24 skiers -- many repeat visitors -- bunk in a 60-year-old stone cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A full-time hutkeeper keeps the stove stoked. Climb up to Horse Ridge to catch some turns (and a view of Half Dome) or just tool around in the woods. The self-catered feasts are festive, so stuff a bottle of wine next to your Nalgene. <br /><b>Info: </b>$25 nightly per person; 209-372-0740, www.ostranderhut.com</p><P><b>TORNGAT MOUNTAINS, Quebec</b><br />Maybe an off-piste trove of fresh powder isn't good enough for you -- you don't just want untracked, you want never been tracked. You want the Arctic. And who better to show the way than celeb skiers John and Dan Egan? Build Inuit igloos, skin over to the Labrador Coast, and tackle stand-alone peaks. It's your chance for the glory of a first descent, if you can beat the Egans to the punch.<br /><b>Info: </b>$4,500, includes airfare from Montreal, lodging, all meals, transportation, guides, and a customized video of the trip; April 18-29, 2002; 800-983-2670, www.skiclinics.com</p><P><b>SILVERTON MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, Silverton, Colorado</b><br />Before you buy a ticket for Silverton's new -- and only -- lift, you have to take a written backcountry test. Pass, and you and your avalanche gear can have your way with the area's all-black-diamond steeps. The Outdoor Learning and Recreation Center offers courses on avalanche safety, mountain rescue, and mountaineering skills. Girls, don't miss Sisters of the Steeps, a weekend workshop for resort skiers looking to safely venture farrther afield.<br /><b>Info: </b>$25 daily; 970-387-5706, www.silvertonmountain.com</p><P><b>GARIBALDI-NÉVÉE TRAVERSE, Whistler, British Columbia</b><br />Névée is French for "big, huge snowfield," according to Spearhead Mountain Guides. You'll get your névée here, but only after circumnavigating Opal Cone, skirting Garibaldi Peak, and passing blocky seracs -- a classic, leg-burning, high-Alpine route. It takes three days to make the climb from Squamish to Black Tusk, an old volcanic peak, but take an extra day to summit Garibaldi before descending into the Garibaldi Lake basin. Spend your first night at the Elfin Lakes Shelter; bring a tent for the rest.<br /><b>Info: </b>$100 daily for guiding (4 or more), $291 (private), 604-892-3896; Elfin Lakes hut, 604-898-3678, www.bivouac.com</p><P><b>IRWIN LODGE, Crested Butte, Colorado</b><br />When the heave-ho of skiing uphill and lugging your lunch no longer appeals, hitch a ride with Irwin's chauffeured snowcats. They'll take you and 32 others into the heart of 2,200 powdery acres, where you can enjoy some serious backcountry booty without breaking a sweat. And the snowcat-accessed lodge is no yurt: A colossal common room, gourmet meals, fully stocked bar, and big-screen TV make it pretty swanky.<br /><b>Info: </b>$285-$480 nightly per person, includes meals and guiding; 888-GO-IRWIN, www.goirwin.com</p><P><b>TUSHAR MOUNTAIN TOURS, Elk Meadows, Utah</b><br />In 1997, Alec Hornstein procured a yurt from a defunct hut system in southern Utah and started a low-key touring operation near the Elk Meadows Ski Area. A three-and-a-half-mile ski from the Elk Meadows parking lot takes you into the Tushars, a craggy expanse of 12,000-foot peaks, long chutes, and wide-open bowls between the Rockies and the Sierra. If you need a guide, Hornstein will lead you; if you need a chef, he will feed you.<br /><b>Info: </b>$100-$150, including guiding and meals; 435-438-6191, twomilehigh_99@yahoo.com</p><P><b>RENDEZVOUS SKI TOURS, Alta, Wyoming </b><br />Rendezvous operates three yurts on the western side of Teton Pass: Plummer Canyon and Commissary Ridge for the blue-square gang; the higher and more remote Baldy Knoll for the more adventurous. The skiable terrain consists of broad, powder-blanketed ridges leading up to jagged Alpine peaks and spectacular views. The yurts are cozy but basic, with wood stoves and kerosene lanterns. You can go with a guide, or, if you're backcountry savvy, on your own.<br /><b>Info: </b>$165 nightly for up to 8 (unguided); $140-$160 nightly per person (guided); 877-754-4887, <a href="http://www.skithetetons.com" title="www.skithetetons.com">www.skithetetons.com</a></p>
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<a href="/skiing/2001/11/25-great-packages">25 Great Packages</a> </div>
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<a href="/skiing/2001/11/heli-skiing-guide-get-your-rotor-running">Heli-Skiing Guide: Get Your Rotor Running</a> </div>
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<a href="/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2002/01/looking-for-adventure">Looking for Adventure</a> </div>
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articleMon, 11 Aug 2003 09:05:00 +0000SkiNet Editor11267 at http://www.skinet.com/skiingAdventure Guide '02http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2001/10/adventure-guide-02?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<hr width=99% />Go big. Go bold. Go on: Name your adventure.<br />
<hr width=99% /><P>What is your best skiing memory? My friend John used to ditch class in New Jersey and drive to Vermont. Another friend "borrowed" the family car for a stealth visit to Colorado; he had to come clean after his father found an empty Coors can under the seat -- that was when the Silver Bullet was only available out West. As for me, I moved to a resort town three years ago -- the ultimate ski trip -- and that antsy anticipation I used to feel each winter morning still hasn't gone away.</p><P>We've designed our annual travel guide to help you capture that sense of adventure. Descriptions of the top 10 destination resorts in North America -- chosen by our editors and contributors -- detail the best areas to ski, play, and stay. </p><P>Beyond the overall top 10, we've ranked resorts for specific adventures: steeps, off-piste runs, nightlife, and bumps. And if the confines of a ski area seem too limiting, ski into the wild with one of the backcountry treks outlined here.</p><P>In this guide, we've also highlighted spots where skiers and snowboarders can slide together in harmony. Our field trip story features smaller mountains that are worth a side excursion when you're staying at a larger resort nearby. Whatever your choice, you could be headed for your wildest memory yet.</p><P>So, without further ado, here are SKIING's top 10's (along with a few top 5's).</p><P><b>Top 10: Ski Areas</b><br />1. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />2. Aspen/Aspen Highlands/Snowmass, Colorado<br />3. Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado<br />4. Alta and Snowbird, Utah<br />5. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming<br />6. Squaw Valley USA, California<br />7. Mammoth Mountain, California<br />8. Lake Louise, Alberta<br />9. Telluride, Colorado<br />10. Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico</p><P><b>Top 10: Steeps</b><br />1. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />2. Squaw Valley, California<br />3. Snowbird, Utah<br />4. Crested Butte, Colorado<br />5. Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />6. Alta, Utah<br />7. Aspen Highlands, Colorado<br />8. Taos, New Mexico<br />9. Big Sky, Montana<br />10. Telluride, Colorado</p><P><b>Top 10: Off-Piste</b><br />1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />2. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />3. Alta, Utah<br />4. Fernie, British Columbia<br />5. Aspen Highlands, Colorado<br />6. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado<br />7. Alpine Meadows, California<br />8. Sugar Bowl, California<br />9. Snowbird, Utah<br />10. Big Mountain, Montana</p><P><b>Top 10: Skiers and Boarders </b><br />Alyeska, Alaska<br />Big Sky, Montana<br />Brighton, Utah<br />Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />Kirkwood, California<br />Mammoth Mountain, California<br />Mount Baker, Washington<br />Stratton, Vermont<br />Sunday River, Maine<br />Wolf Creek, Colorado</p><P><b>Top 5: Party Spots</b><br />1. Aspen, Colorado<br />2. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />3. Breckenridge, Colorado<br />4. Killington, Vermont<br />5. Park City, Utah</p><P><b>Top 5: Bumps</b><br />1. Winter Park, Colorado<br />2. Killington, Vermont<br />3. Telluride, Colorado<br />4. Aspen Mountain, Colorado<br />5. Squaw Valley, California</p><P><b>Top 5: For avoiding bumps</b><br />1. Deer Valley, Utah<br />2. Vail, Colorado<br />3. Snowbasin, Utah<br />4. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon<br />5. Stratton, Vermont</p><P><b>Top 10: Field Trips</b><br />Bridger Bowl, Montana<br />Bromley, Vermont<br />Grand Targhee, Wyoming<br />Loveland, Colorado<br />Monarch, Colorado<br />Mt. Rose, Nevada<br />Sierra-At-Tahoe, California<br />Snowbasin, Utah<br />Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico<br />Wildcat, New Hampshire</p><P><b>Top 10: Backcountry Adventures</b><br />Sorcerer Lake Lodge, Golden, British Columbia<br />Bull of the Woods Yurt, Taos, New Mexico<br />Chic Choc Mountains, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec<br />Ostrander Hut, Yosemite, California<br />Torngat Mountains, Quebec<br />Silverton Mountain Ski Area, Silverton, Colorado<br />Garibaldi-Névée Traverse, Whistler, British Columbia<br />Irwin Lodge, Crested Butte, Colorado<br />Tushar Mountain Tours, Elk Meadows, Utah<br />Rendezvous Ski Tours, Alta, Wyoming</p>
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<a href="/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2002/01/looking-for-adventure">Looking for Adventure</a> </div>
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http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2001/10/adventure-guide-02#commentsaspen highlandsbig sky montanacrested buttejackson holelake louise albertamammoth mountain californiaSnowbirdsnowmass coloradosquaw valleytaostaos new mexicotaos ski valley new mexicotelluride coloradowhistler blackcombColorado Ski ResortsWyomingNew Mexicoskiing11230http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/thumb/01/10/skg1101AGaT.jpg51071adventure guide opener
Dan Treadway, caught in the middle of his own adventure at Whistler, our number-one-ranked resort.
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/Adventure<hr width=99% />Go big. Go bold. Go on: Name your adventure.<br />
<hr width=99% /><P>What is your best skiing memory? My friend John used to ditch class in New Jersey and drive to Vermont. Another friend "borrowed" the family car for a stealth visit to Colorado; he had to come clean after his father found an empty Coors can under the seat -- that was when the Silver Bullet was only available out West. As for me, I moved to a resort town three years ago -- the ultimate ski trip -- and that antsy anticipation I used to feel each winter morning still hasn't gone away.</p><P>We've designed our annual travel guide to help you capture that sense of adventure. Descriptions of the top 10 destination resorts in North America -- chosen by our editors and contributors -- detail the best areas to ski, play, and stay. </p><P>Beyond the overall top 10, we've ranked resorts for specific adventures: steeps, off-piste runs, nightlife, and bumps. And if the confines of a ski area seem too limiting, ski into the wild with one of the backcountry treks outlined here.</p><P>In this guide, we've also highlighted spots where skiers and snowboarders can slide together in harmony. Our field trip story features smaller mountains that are worth a side excursion when you're staying at a larger resort nearby. Whatever your choice, you could be headed for your wildest memory yet.</p><P>So, without further ado, here are SKIING's top 10's (along with a few top 5's).</p><P><b>Top 10: Ski Areas</b><br />1. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />2. Aspen/Aspen Highlands/Snowmass, Colorado<br />3. Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado<br />4. Alta and Snowbird, Utah<br />5. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming<br />6. Squaw Valley USA, California<br />7. Mammoth Mountain, California<br />8. Lake Louise, Alberta<br />9. Telluride, Colorado<br />10. Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico</p><P><b>Top 10: Steeps</b><br />1. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />2. Squaw Valley, California<br />3. Snowbird, Utah<br />4. Crested Butte, Colorado<br />5. Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />6. Alta, Utah<br />7. Aspen Highlands, Colorado<br />8. Taos, New Mexico<br />9. Big Sky, Montana<br />10. Telluride, Colorado</p><P><b>Top 10: Off-Piste</b><br />1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />2. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />3. Alta, Utah<br />4. Fernie, British Columbia<br />5. Aspen Highlands, Colorado<br />6. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado<br />7. Alpine Meadows, California<br />8. Sugar Bowl, California<br />9. Snowbird, Utah<br />10. Big Mountain, Montana</p><P><b>Top 10: Skiers and Boarders </b><br />Alyeska, Alaska<br />Big Sky, Montana<br />Brighton, Utah<br />Jackson Hole, Wyoming<br />Kirkwood, California<br />Mammoth Mountain, California<br />Mount Baker, Washington<br />Stratton, Vermont<br />Sunday River, Maine<br />Wolf Creek, Colorado</p><P><b>Top 5: Party Spots</b><br />1. Aspen, Colorado<br />2. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia<br />3. Breckenridge, Colorado<br />4. Killington, Vermont<br />5. Park City, Utah</p><P><b>Top 5: Bumps</b><br />1. Winter Park, Colorado<br />2. Killington, Vermont<br />3. Telluride, Colorado<br />4. Aspen Mountain, Colorado<br />5. Squaw Valley, California</p><P><b>Top 5: For avoiding bumps</b><br />1. Deer Valley, Utah<br />2. Vail, Colorado<br />3. Snowbasin, Utah<br />4. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon<br />5. Stratton, Vermont</p><P><b>Top 10: Field Trips</b><br />Bridger Bowl, Montana<br />Bromley, Vermont<br />Grand Targhee, Wyoming<br />Loveland, Colorado<br />Monarch, Colorado<br />Mt. Rose, Nevada<br />Sierra-At-Tahoe, California<br />Snowbasin, Utah<br />Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico<br />Wildcat, New Hampshire</p><P><b>Top 10: Backcountry Adventures</b><br />Sorcerer Lake Lodge, Golden, British Columbia<br />Bull of the Woods Yurt, Taos, New Mexico<br />Chic Choc Mountains, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec<br />Ostrander Hut, Yosemite, California<br />Torngat Mountains, Quebec<br />Silverton Mountain Ski Area, Silverton, Colorado<br />Garibaldi-Névée Traverse, Whistler, British Columbia<br />Irwin Lodge, Crested Butte, Colorado<br />Tushar Mountain Tours, Elk Meadows, Utah<br />Rendezvous Ski Tours, Alta, Wyoming</p>
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<a href="/skiing/resorts/rockies/colorado/2002/01/looking-for-adventure">Looking for Adventure</a> </div>
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articleThu, 04 Oct 2001 19:36:00 +0000SkiNet Editor11230 at http://www.skinet.com/skiingTaos Pictureshttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/photo-gallery/taos-pictures?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<p>Pictures from Taos, New Mexico.</p>
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http://www.skinet.com/skiing/photo-gallery/taos-pictures#commentstaos new mexicoNew Mexicoskiing14351http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/thumb/00/09/SKI1000tact.jpg39840taos pic C 1000
(Photo by Michael Holmquist)
<p>Pictures from Taos, New Mexico.</p>
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gallery35495http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tacm.jpgtaos pic C 1000
(Photo by Michael Holmquist)
35496http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tadm.jpgtaos pic D 1000
(Photo by Ken Gallard)
35497http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tafm.jpgtaos pic F 1000
The Inn at Snakedance may be relatively new, but it draws on the roots of its predecessor, the original Hondo Lodge. <br>(Photo by Ken Gallard)
35498http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tagm.jpgtaos pic G 1000
The Taos steeple against the Sangre de Cristos. <br>(Photo by Ken Gallard)
35499http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tahm.jpgtaos pic H 1000
Assistant GM Gordon Briner (in red) and Jean Meyer ensure that the Taos tradition continues.<br>(Photo by Beth Ricciardi)
35500http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000taim.jpgtaos pic I 1000
Ernie's sense of humor is still present. <br>(Photo by Beth Ricciardi)
35501http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000takm.jpgtaos pic K 1000
(Photo by Ken Gallard)
35502http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/standard/00/09/SKI1000tajm.jpgtaos pic J 1000
Ernie's infamous Martini Tree¿a goblet of gin that serves as on-hill liquid motivation¿still exists.<br>(Photo by Ken Gallard)
Thu, 21 Sep 2000 18:52:00 +0000SkiNet Editor14351 at http://www.skinet.com/skiingRestaurant Critique: Trading Post Cafehttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2000/08/restaurant-critique-trading-post-cafe?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<p> <b>Taos, New Mexico</b>As any one of its many loyal fans will tell you, the best way to experience the Trading Post Cafe in Taos, N.M., is from a high stool at the oak and latillo counter that anchors the room. There, you can dip ladles into jars of flavored olive oils (and pieces of fresh, crusty bread into that), ogle bowls of bright tomatoes and lemons, and, best of all, enjoy a spirited discourse with owner-chef René Mettler as he orchestrates the evening's meal.
<li> "It's like show biz here at dinner," Mettler explains with infectious enthusiasm and a boisterous laugh. "The pots are banging and the knives are flying. People really eat it up." <P>
<li> That's not all they eat. Nightly, Mettler, along with partner Marco Barbitta and a flamboyant kitchen crew, serves up generous portions of Northern Italian, country-style cuisine on colorful "circus china," Mettler's 800-piece collection of granite, ceramic, glass and tile plates, platters and bowls.
</li><li> While dishes such as penne arrabbiata, bisteca Fiorentina and ossobuco Milaneselend a definite taste of Italia to the menu, influences from other cultures show up as well, most often on a list of specials that can number 15 per evening: home-cured gravlax with Japanese soya noodles and pickled cucumbers, rabbit paté with Dijon aoli, Creole pepper shrimp and striped bass with stir-fried vegetables. "I cook for the people," Mettler explains. "If someone comes in and asks for something special, I'll make it for them if I can. If I cooked only for myself, no one would come."<P>
<li> At 56, Swiss-born Mettler's resumé reads like a culinary travelogue. For more than 40 years, he held executive chef and chef garde manger positions at world-class restaurants from Switzerland to London, Wailea to St. Croix. It was a life he loved, until a trip through Taos five years ago inspired him to settle down. "My wife and I thought we would retire," he laughs. "But here was this wonderful old trading post, where the community used to gather. We created this restaurant from scratch and filled it with the work of local artisans. Now it's everybody's place."
</li><li> But as much as Mettler enjoys hob-nobbing with the crowd, his true passion is his food. With a flourish, he sprinkles herbs over a plate of chicken Vesuvio, and squeezes puffs of mashed potatoes from a pastry bag. "It's important how you present things," he says. "People's eyes light up when you do it right, and they're happy before they even take a bite." <P><b>Best BBQ</b></p><P><b>Quarter-pound "hot Polish" links</b> <br />@ Bubba's Bones <br />Breckenridge, CO</p><P><b> The Luckenbach Special (ribs, beef and sausage) </b><br />@ Texas Reds Pit Barbecue<br />Park City, UT</p><P><b>Hickory-smoked spare ribs</b><br />@ Bubba's Bar-B-Que<br />Jackson, WY</p><P><b>Oak-smoked chopped brisket sandwich</b><br />@ Fast Eddie's Texas-Style BBQ<br />Tahoe City, CA</p><P><b>Southern-style baby-back pork ribs</b><br />@ Rusty's Hickory House<br />Aspen, CO</p><P><b>Cherry-smoked pork ribs with "patented" sauce</b><br />@ Shady Brook Cafe<br />Taos, NM</p>
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<a href="/skiing/jackson-hole-buffalo-meat-company/2000/11/tastes-of-the-mountains">Tastes of the Mountains</a> </div>
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<a href="/skiing/fine-wines/2000/11/whats-cooking-a-world-of-wines">What&#039;s Cooking: A World of Wines</a> </div>
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http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2000/08/restaurant-critique-trading-post-cafe#commentstaos new mexicoNew Mexicoskiing8691http://www.skinet.com/skiing/files/skinetimages/mtnpub/content/images/old/thumb/00/08/SKI0399slgt.jpg42238trading post cafe critique photo 1
Owner, chef and chief debater, Rene Mettler.
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/Fall Line<p> <b>Taos, New Mexico</b>As any one of its many loyal fans will tell you, the best way to experience the Trading Post Cafe in Taos, N.M., is from a high stool at the oak and latillo counter that anchors the room. There, you can dip ladles into jars of flavored olive oils (and pieces of fresh, crusty bread into that), ogle bowls of bright tomatoes and lemons, and, best of all, enjoy a spirited discourse with owner-chef René Mettler as he orchestrates the evening's meal.
<li> "It's like show biz here at dinner," Mettler explains with infectious enthusiasm and a boisterous laugh. "The pots are banging and the knives are flying. People really eat it up." <P>
<li> That's not all they eat. Nightly, Mettler, along with partner Marco Barbitta and a flamboyant kitchen crew, serves up generous portions of Northern Italian, country-style cuisine on colorful "circus china," Mettler's 800-piece collection of granite, ceramic, glass and tile plates, platters and bowls.
</li><li> While dishes such as penne arrabbiata, bisteca Fiorentina and ossobuco Milaneselend a definite taste of Italia to the menu, influences from other cultures show up as well, most often on a list of specials that can number 15 per evening: home-cured gravlax with Japanese soya noodles and pickled cucumbers, rabbit paté with Dijon aoli, Creole pepper shrimp and striped bass with stir-fried vegetables. "I cook for the people," Mettler explains. "If someone comes in and asks for something special, I'll make it for them if I can. If I cooked only for myself, no one would come."<P>
<li> At 56, Swiss-born Mettler's resumé reads like a culinary travelogue. For more than 40 years, he held executive chef and chef garde manger positions at world-class restaurants from Switzerland to London, Wailea to St. Croix. It was a life he loved, until a trip through Taos five years ago inspired him to settle down. "My wife and I thought we would retire," he laughs. "But here was this wonderful old trading post, where the community used to gather. We created this restaurant from scratch and filled it with the work of local artisans. Now it's everybody's place."
</li><li> But as much as Mettler enjoys hob-nobbing with the crowd, his true passion is his food. With a flourish, he sprinkles herbs over a plate of chicken Vesuvio, and squeezes puffs of mashed potatoes from a pastry bag. "It's important how you present things," he says. "People's eyes light up when you do it right, and they're happy before they even take a bite." <P><b>Best BBQ</b></p><P><b>Quarter-pound "hot Polish" links</b> <br />@ Bubba's Bones <br />Breckenridge, CO</p><P><b> The Luckenbach Special (ribs, beef and sausage) </b><br />@ Texas Reds Pit Barbecue<br />Park City, UT</p><P><b>Hickory-smoked spare ribs</b><br />@ Bubba's Bar-B-Que<br />Jackson, WY</p><P><b>Oak-smoked chopped brisket sandwich</b><br />@ Fast Eddie's Texas-Style BBQ<br />Tahoe City, CA</p><P><b>Southern-style baby-back pork ribs</b><br />@ Rusty's Hickory House<br />Aspen, CO</p><P><b>Cherry-smoked pork ribs with "patented" sauce</b><br />@ Shady Brook Cafe<br />Taos, NM</p>
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<a href="/skiing/jackson-hole-buffalo-meat-company/2000/11/tastes-of-the-mountains">Tastes of the Mountains</a> </div>
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<a href="/skiing/fine-wines/2000/11/whats-cooking-a-world-of-wines">What&#039;s Cooking: A World of Wines</a> </div>
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articleThu, 10 Aug 2000 13:12:00 +0000SkiNet Editor8691 at http://www.skinet.com/skiingDream Towns: Taos, New Mexicohttp://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2000/07/dream-towns-taos-new-mexico?lnk=rss&loc=taos-new-mexico
<p>When the conquistadors first spotted Taos glittering on the high plains of the Rio Grande Valley in 1540, they thought they'd stumbled upon the mythical golden city of El Dorado. For the easy-riding hippies who drifted in centuries later, Taos was a peace-lovers' paradise-a hallucinogenically beautiful mountain town full of Indian mystics and sweat lodges, not to mention a communal groove between the Pueblo people, the Hispanics, and the Anglos.</p><P>Today, both the beauty and diversity still thrive. And while Taos has grudgingly evolved with the times-plans to put a Super Wal-Mart on the main drag have locals protesting loudly-this tiny (population: 4,500) adobe hamlet has managed to hang on to its charm. The nearest major airport is three hours away, which tends to weed out Hollywood commuters and cell-phone junkies, leaving a low-glitz community of artists, ranchers, tourist entrepreneurs, and outdoor enthusiasts. A New Age vibe permeates nearly every element of life. Herbalists and polarity therapists have moved into the historic town plaza. Unload your U-Haul in Taos and you may well find an L.A. transplant turned shamanistic, cattle-wrangling lift op named Soaring Eagle living in the adobe next door. </p><P>Taos Ski Valley sits 18 miles up the road, which makes for easy access, but rescues the town from utter ski dominance. And jobs? The tourism industry prevails, but painters, writers, and therapists of all stripes manage to flourish here, too. </p><P><b>BUSINESS MOST NEEDED:</b> locally owned, spiritually rich version of a Super Wal-Mart. <br /><b>DON'T FORGET TO PACK:</b> your ylang-ylang oil.</p><P><a href=http://www.skinet.com/magazines/skiing/feature/00/2396.html>Return to Making the Move</a></p>
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/resorts/rockies/new-mexico/2000/07/dream-towns-taos-new-mexico#commentsmain dragtaostaos new mexicoNew Mexicoskiing12069http://www.skinet.com/skiing/http://www.skinet.com/skiing/Features<p>When the conquistadors first spotted Taos glittering on the high plains of the Rio Grande Valley in 1540, they thought they'd stumbled upon the mythical golden city of El Dorado. For the easy-riding hippies who drifted in centuries later, Taos was a peace-lovers' paradise-a hallucinogenically beautiful mountain town full of Indian mystics and sweat lodges, not to mention a communal groove between the Pueblo people, the Hispanics, and the Anglos.</p><P>Today, both the beauty and diversity still thrive. And while Taos has grudgingly evolved with the times-plans to put a Super Wal-Mart on the main drag have locals protesting loudly-this tiny (population: 4,500) adobe hamlet has managed to hang on to its charm. The nearest major airport is three hours away, which tends to weed out Hollywood commuters and cell-phone junkies, leaving a low-glitz community of artists, ranchers, tourist entrepreneurs, and outdoor enthusiasts. A New Age vibe permeates nearly every element of life. Herbalists and polarity therapists have moved into the historic town plaza. Unload your U-Haul in Taos and you may well find an L.A. transplant turned shamanistic, cattle-wrangling lift op named Soaring Eagle living in the adobe next door. </p><P>Taos Ski Valley sits 18 miles up the road, which makes for easy access, but rescues the town from utter ski dominance. And jobs? The tourism industry prevails, but painters, writers, and therapists of all stripes manage to flourish here, too. </p><P><b>BUSINESS MOST NEEDED:</b> locally owned, spiritually rich version of a Super Wal-Mart. <br /><b>DON'T FORGET TO PACK:</b> your ylang-ylang oil.</p><P><a href=http://www.skinet.com/magazines/skiing/feature/00/2396.html>Return to Making the Move</a></p>
articleWed, 05 Jul 2000 00:00:00 +0000SkiNet Editor12069 at http://www.skinet.com/skiing